A better reason why he will not debate:

There is absolutely no evidence that Mr. Foy has any knowledge or experience in workings and structure county government and he is fearful that a fair and open forum would soon make that very apparent.

His decision is really a total lack of confidence masked as overconfidence.

Scott,

I love reading your editorials and blogs. You are a godsend the disillusioned moderates who disdain the extremes of both parties. McCain/Lieberman '08 please!

It is surprising then that you would label Dantona a "liberal," especially since you have not taken the time to interview him.

Rumor has it that Mr. Foy turned down an invitation from you also. Does he consider you biased as well?

Why won't you conduct an interview with a candidate who truly embodies the kind of politics you preach?

No - Dantona is not a Republican but he is exactly the kind of candidate Republicans, Democrats, and Independents need to reach out to end the partisan gridlock and animosity. I know that because I met him, have seen the work he has done with kids firsthand, and I know of his community activities. (Foy fails in that regard as well).

Please respond and take Dantona on - one on one. You may be surprised and we will all be better off. Peter Foy is an inexperienced man of extremes and we can not afford that.

Whattaya say Scott?

Texas,

I don't need to take Mr. Dantona. I wish I had more than 1-spot per week, but that's all that's available.

My comments were directed toward politicians afraid to debate and the rest I'll leave to the voters. I am certain that Mr.Dantona appreciates your support and passion.

Mr. Harris;
I just recently participated in my first blog (Brian Dennert Here) but no one would respond to my challenge for Foy to debate. It is as if they were afraid to bring up the religion subject. So I thought I’d try your blog which I stumbled upon yesterday. I’d like to respond paragraph by paragraph to your “editorial” regarding the ”Star editorial”.

Paragraph #1. I agree that Mr. Foy or any forthright candidate should accept any debate to show the potential constituents what he stands for.

#2 Yes, it seems to be stretching it a bit to knock the Women’s League as being biased just because they don’t agree with some things conservatives espouse. They have a reputation of fair debates even if the questions are watered down a bit.

#3. Yes, Mr. Foy is a “conservative” but I don’t think the potential voters of the 4th District really know exactly how “far to the right” conservative he is. Are you aware that he has or still is a member of “The Council for National Policy” a very ultra right membership by invitation only organization that has included such inspiring and forthright (tongue in cheek) members as : Jack Abramoff, Gary Bauer, William Bennett, Thomas DeLay, James Dobson, Jerry Falwell, Beverly and Tim LaHahaye, Trent Lott,Rev.Sun Myung Moon, Grover Norquist, Oliver North, Ralph Reed, Phyllis Schlafly and last but not least Pat Robinson. What did candidate Foy do to deserve to be invited to join such prestigious company? We may never know because the organization discourages any member to tell who belongs and what they say at their meetings. In fact, the members are told not to refer to the group by name in e-mail messages. To do so is grounds for dismissal. It really disturbs me that we have a candidate running who ascribes to such beliefs and will not be open to his potential constituents.

Of course, he also has/and perhaps still belongs to other right wing organizations such as the Christian Coalition, founded by Pat Robertson. They also instruct any member candidate for public office never to reveal their affiliation with the Christian Coalition (CC). Perhaps that is why Mr. Foy hasn’t bragged or even mentioned his membership in such a powerful organization. He hasn’t even mentioned his financial prowess of having once been the finance chairman for the California CC. As the National CC claims that it has the ability to distribute 30 million pieces of literature, almost exclusively through churches, on the eve of elections one could suspect that that is how the late entry relatively unknown Mr. Foy came out ahead of Ms. Mikels and Mr. Dantona in the primary. Did he use the church to distribute literature and or absentee ballots on church parking lot cars or even in the church bulletins as the CC has done before? Methods such as that are known as the “San Diego Stealth” method. Foy certainly wasn’t elected on what he had espoused publicly which is essentially nothing except perhaps to selected Republican circles.

I judge by the person’s record and the company he keeps and Mr. Foy’s company scares me. Their stated initial goals are to gain control of school boards, water districts, planning boards, city councils, COUNTY SUPERVISOR BOARDS, and Republican Party Committees, etc. Please, any Foy backers rush in and defend the company and campaign methodologies that Mr. Foy is associated with. Show me that you are not “Sneaky Cowards of the County”. Show me that you are proud of your candidates’ record and relationships. I challenge you to make it public. Have Foy stand up, be open and debate in front of his potential constituents.

#4 I agree it is an act of cowardice to not debate. But The Star has to be brave enough to explore and investigate, then come out and ask the tough questions. Why won’t he debate? If a candidate hides behind the political strategy excuse it just goes to show arrogance and contempt for the public! Why educate the public on issues when winning and power is the goal?

#5 Yes, we need accountability from our elected officials from the President on down. Yes, this supervisory race may not change the state, in the short immediate run but it is a big step up from such wins as the local Republican Committee which I was told recently was “taken over” by more extreme (to the right) members. The extreme religious right has been working with the San Diego Stealth method since the early 1990’s and have become quite adept at winning. I don’t want this 4th District race to go in their column. I love my Country, our County, our Las Posas Valley and Somis too much for that.

Before anyone accuses me of “religious bigotry” just realize that I am tolerant of other beliefs. We all have the right to our personal beliefs. I just don’t approve of the behind the backs, don’t let anyone know your true agenda methods employed by a lot of politicians.

John F. Kerkhoff
Somis, California